Re-creation of H.M.S. Discovery and Chatham Leaving Falmouth, England, 1792, on Vancouver's expedition to the Pacific Northwest Coast PDP00289

The British started talking about war, but the following year Spain returned the prisoners and ships, and signed the "Nootka Convention," wherein Spain and Britain agreed to share trading rights to the Pacific Northwest coast.

 

Re-creation of Captain George Vancouver meeting Don Juan Francisco De La Bodega Y Quadra, at Nootka, 1792 PDP00480

Both countries appointed envoys to lead mapping expeditions. Spain appointed Bodega y Quadra and Britain appointed George Vancouver.

Re-creation - Simon Fraser 'shoots' the upper Fraser Canyon, 1808 PDP00696

Starting in 1793, other explorers such as Alexander Mackenzie, Simon Fraser, and David Thompson, came overland from the eastern side of the continent. They were searching for new fur trading opportunities, to meet the demand for beaver felt hats, which were fashionable clothing in Europe.

Many of the waterways, islands, cities, towns and streets in British Columbia are named for early explorers. The names for the Strait of Juan De Fuca and Quadra Island, for example, show the Spanish influence.

Ultimately Great Britain was the country which established colonies and led settlement in what became British Columbia. It is interesting to imagine what a different cultural mix we would have here today if Spain or Russia had dominated instead.

Use the forward arrow to move on to the next page, to learn about the fur trade and the colonies that were established in British Columbia.